The Race is on to apply for €125,000 in Grants Promoting Physical Activity

Minister of State for Tourism and Sport, Michael Ring TD, today issued a final call for voluntary and not-for-profit organisations to apply for five grants totalling €125,000 up for grabs this year from the Coca-Cola Thank You Fund (the Fund) for innovative sport and activity based programmes aimed at getting people moving. The deadline for applications at www.coca-cola.ie/thankyou is June 16th 2014 at 6pm.

“The race is on for voluntary and non-profit organisations to apply for the Coca-Cola Thank You Fund, which is distributing five €25,000 grants to innovative projects promoting active lifestyles this year. The focus is on getting people moving and introducing physical activity into all our lives. This is a fantastic initiative from Coca-Cola and I would urge organisations to apply now as the deadline for applications,June 16th, is fast approaching,” said Minister Ring.

Representatives of organisations which submit applications with the most engaging approaches to promoting activity will be included in a shortlist of twelve and will be invited to go before a judging panel consisting of Lorraine Ho, Managing Director of Bootcamp Ireland, Tina Murphy, founder of Run with Tina, Denis Toomey, President, Cycling Ireland and ‎Deirdre Garvey, CEO at The Wheel. Representatives from both of the Fund’s partner organisations The Federation of Irish Sport, and the Northern Ireland Sports Forum are also included in the panel along with Erica Roseingrave of Coca-Cola Hellenic Ireland. Each of the shortlisted organisations will have to present a 10-minute pitch to the judges about their project and why they think they should receive the funding, followed by a further 10-minute Q&A session with the panel. The five winning ideas will be announced in October 2014.

“The Fund presents a fantastic opportunity for voluntary and not-for-profit organisations in Ireland and Northern Ireland to bring plans to life that will have a measurable, positive impact on people’s lives. The focus is on creativity and ingenuity, on generating new and ever more engaging ways for people to get active. If you have an inspired idea for a project that your organisation could execute with our support, we would urge you to apply now at www.coca-cola.ie/thankyou and to join the conversation on Twitter at #MovementIsHappiness,” said Erica Roseingrave, Public Affairs and Communications Manager, Coca-Cola HBC Ireland.

“The impact of the Coca-Cola Thank You Fund is felt in local communities through sports and activity programmes that entice and enable members of the public to get active. In 2014, five organisations will each receive individual grants of €25,000, facilitating the rollout of truly ambitious projects. We are delighted to serve as a partner with the Fund and would urge voluntary and not—for-profit organisations with activity based projects in mind to apply now,” said Sarah O’Connor, ‎Chief Executive, The Federation of Irish Sport.

The Coca-Cola Thank You Fund was launched in 2011 and has so far distributed €375,000 in grants. This year’s funding total of €125,000 will bring the amount donated through the Fund to half a million Euro. More information about the Fund is available at www.coca-cola.ie/thankyou.